With finals here, and papers and projects due, you’ve probably spent more than a few nights falling asleep on your computer keyboard or textbook. And what do we turn to when we have to get through an entire syllabus of reading because procrastinating seemed like a good idea? Caffeine.
Coffee, iced tea, soda: we buy them for a little extra umph. But when you’re looking for some help to really stay awake, energy drinks are the way to go.
Whether it be Monster, Redbull, Rockstar or Amp, energy drinks are one of the first things people turn to when they are in need of caffeine, and it’s no wonder why. They are available in vending machines, at gas stations or 7-eleven and they pack the most caffeine into the smallest package. They can do this because their makers market them as dietary supplements so they don’t fall under FDA regulations, unlike sodas such as Mountain Dew, which is limited to a certain amount of caffeine per 12 ounces.
If you’re not paying attention to how much you consume, caffeine can be more dangerous than you think, so does that mean drinks like Monster or Redbull should be regulated?
Yes, energy drinks are harmful and can cause many side effects including death, but I think it’s the responsibility of the people who are drinking them to make sure they know how many they are consuming and when they need to stop.
Energy drink companies make it harder for people to buy just one can when they have the promotions at 7-eleven for two-for-four or two-for-five, but after buying two, customers may end up drinking both even if they really didn’t need the second one.
Restricting these drinks to age 18 and older may stop kids from walking into a 7-eleven and buying it themselves, but it won’t stop them from being able to get their hands on a can. Your best solution for dealing with caffeine consumption is to get enough sleep in the first place, and resist the temptation of that “little boost.”But until that happens it seems to me that America doesn’t run on coffee, it runs on energy drinks.
Source:
http://sbpress.com/2012/12/america-runs-on-energy-drinks/